CODEL WEXLER TELLS ANKARA THAT GAZA RESPONSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000336 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SE, NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IS TU SUBJECT: CODEL WEXLER TELLS ANKARA THAT GAZA RESPONSE UNDERCUT PRO-TURKEY ADVOCACY IN WASHINGTON REF: ANKARA 257 Classified By: DCM Douglas Silliman, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Congressman Wexler's message to Turkey's leaders during his February 17-20 visit was blunt. He told President Gul, PM Erdogan, Chief of the Turkish General Staff (TGS) Basbug, PM Foreign Policy Advisor Davutoglu, MFA U/S Apakan, and other GOT, Parliamentary and opposition party leaders that the events of recent weeks, including the PM's outburst at Davos, have led many in Washington to view Turkey as erratic and out of step in its objectives with the West and moderate Arab states. This has undercut the ability of Turkey's friends to advocate on its behalf and on behalf of strong U.S.-Turkey relations. The new U.S. administration, the Congressman stressed, shares Turkey's vision of Middle East peace and its emphasis on engagement. At the same time, Turkey's brave openings toward Armenia have offered its advocates a persuasive argument against recognizing formally an Armenian genocide. Despite this favorable set of circumstances, we are focused on Davos. Compounding this problem, the "terms and tones" of the PM's and others' remarks are easily misinterpreted as anti-Israel or anti-Semitic by those in Washington who do not understand Turkey or appreciate fully the importance of strong U.S.-Turkey relations. While emphasizing that he was visiting Turkey to assist USG efforts to promote stronger U.S.-Turkey relations, Wexler underscored that, in his view, Turkey-Israel relations are an important part of our relations. END SUMMARY. Hamas/Gaza -------------- ¶2. (C) Congressman Wexler told his interlocutors that it was deeply perplexing how a country that has suffered so badly at the hands of the PKK could praise Hamas as a reformist party without noticing its destructive, rejectionist role as a terrorist organization, whose basic tenet is the destruction of a UN-recognized state. Of course, nobody expects Turkey's views on Arab-Israel issues to be the same as ours; friends can disagree and these disagreements can be a tool toward reaching solutions. The U.S. has supported the intermediary role Turkey sought between Israel and Syria, but its posture on Hamas makes it difficult to advocate on behalf of Turkey assuming a similar role in the future. ¶3. (C) PM Foreign Policy Advisor Ahmet Davutoglu cautioned against isolating Hamas, arguing that it would drive the Palestinians toward Iran and stoke regional tension. He sought to convince Wexler that it was to the West's benefit that PM Erdogan had, as he maintained, captured the Arab street, previously occupied by Nasrallah and Ahmadinejad. Erdogan was the only democratic leader standing up for Gazans; Turkey cannot be compared to those so-called "moderate Arab states." CHOD GEN Basbug, somewhat surprisingly, supported the GOT stance without qualification, arguing that Hamas needed to be an equal partner in discussions for a solution. Even opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal maintained that the government's Middle East policy was "functioning well." Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP Suat Kiniklioglu argued that Turkey supports Palestinian unity and Hamas is part of the Palestinian polity. Davutoglu told Wexler that Turkey has pressed Hamas to stop rocket attacks against Israel and has urged it to adopt a political agenda. Erdogan and Davutoglu emphasized that Turkey did not wish to supplant the Egyptian role vis a vis Hamas, only to support -- as the only country capable of talking to all sides -- efforts to promote Arab unity and a lasting ceasefire. President Gul, Erdogan and Davutoglu each shared his view that the Gaza operation left Israel less secure. Israeli Ambassador Levy told Wexler separately that he did not personally oppose the Turkish-Hamas channel, so long as Turkey uses it to steer Hamas in the right direction, implying it was not clear that was happening. Israel-Syria Negotiations -------------- ¶4. (C) Erdogan and Davutoglu reviewed the progress Turkey had made on the Israel-Syria track -- work that Davutoglu ANKARA 00000336 002 OF 003 emphasized Turkey undertook with little fanfare or posturing. Gul said that while Turkey still has great hopes for Israel-Syria reconciliation, the Gaza operation suspended a process that could have achieved a result comparable to Israel-Egypt or Israel-Jordan peace. Davutoglu went to pains to emphasize how close Turkey was to reaching an agreement from the two sides to enter into direct talks when the offensive began, and that it was understandable that Erdogan would have been disappointed after expending so much effort. This effort, he argued, would have provided President Obama valuable momentum to help him achieve his vision of Middle East peace. Now we have lost at least one year, maybe four. ¶5. (C) Gul and Davutoglu told Wexler that they believed both Israel and Syria were sincere in their efforts through four rounds of Turkish-mediated talks; Davutoglu shared his view that PM Olmert did not, despite an implication to the contrary by Erdogan, come to Ankara in December knowing that a military operation was imminent. Israeli Ambassador Levy suggested to Congressman Wexler that Turkey may not have appreciated fully that a big power, like the U.S., would have ultimately had to get involved if the talks were to succeed. He noted tQ many Israeli experts had cautioned Olmert against agreeing to mediation with Syria by its strategic ally Turkey. Looking forward, Levy opined that if Turkey is given a role in the Middle East peace process, however marginal, it will work hard, as it did on the Syrian track. Turkey-Israel Relations -------------- ¶6. (C) Apakan shared his view that Turkey's relations with Israel are part of Turkey's Western and European vocation. Erdogan said Turkey's relations with Israel serve the two countries' mutual interests; they are not an issue of faith. Turkey has "extremely close" relations with Israel, especially in the commercial and political-military fields and Turkey will not damage those. Speaker Toptan echoed this view, noting that from time to time tempers flare, but that both sides are quick to say relations will not be broken. He reminded the Congressman that Presidents Peres and Abbas addressed the Turkish National Assembly jointly in 2007. Basbug was still bristling from a statement made by Israel's Land Forces Commander the previous week (reftel) and insisted that, without a "correction," Turkey's bilateral relations with Israel would suffer. (NOTE: The IDF has issued a statement that IDF Chief of Staff Ashkenazi had spoken with GEN Basbug last week and that the views of the Land Forces Commander were his own and not the views of the IDF. This appears to have mollified TGS, though Israeli Ambassador Levy told Wexler separately that he had expected a stronger IDF statement. END NOTE.) Wexler reminded Davutoglu that President Peres called House Speaker Pelosi personally to urge her not to go ahead with the floor vote on AGR in 2007. Apakan expressed his confidence that Peres, as a "wise man, valuing peace, stability and cooperation" would be willing to take such a step again. Anti-Semitism/"Jewish Lobby" -------------- ¶7. (C) Wexler told PM Erdogan that the "terms and tones" used by the PM and others on the Gaza situation went beyond acceptable and were linked by some observers with historical anti-Semitic charges, e.g., Jewish control of the media. Istanbul-based Jewish community leaders told Wexler that criticisms of Israel, such as those invoking Moses or the Torah, have drifted into the realm of "Jewishness," and the community is as insecure as it has ever been since 1955. Erdogan reiterated his efforts to speak out against anti-Semitism going back to the 2003 terrorist attacks in Istanbul, which targeted two synagogues, and dismissed one highly-publicized case in Eskisehir as the work of a handful of people linked to Ergenekon. (NOTE: A widely publicized photograph during the Gaza conflict showed a few Eskisehir men holding a sign that read, "Jews and Armenians Not Allowed to Enter; Dogs Welcome." END NOTE.) Davutoglu maintained that criticism of Israel's actions are legitimate. He drew attention to Israeli settlements, which Israel agreed to suspend, but did not. Israel used phosphorus bombs, noting accounts from Turkish doctors. "This was a war crime," he said. Hamas is told it has to live up to the Quartet's rules ANKARA 00000336 003 OF 003 for engagement, but the Quartet has no credibility. The Israeli right wing is allowed free speech, but not Hamas? The perception of Israeli impunity only leads to blanket suspicion and condemnation of Israel. It is better to criticize specific actions. ¶8. (C) Wexler cautioned Davutoglu and others not to over-invest in the "myth" of a Jewish lobby in Washington that is decisively influential on an issue such as the Armenian Genocide Resolution; it is not. Members of Congress do not vote on an issue like this based on religious faith and counting Jewish votes in Congress is offensive. U.S.-Turkey Relations/Armenian Question -------------- ¶9. (C) Turkish leaders and Wexler agreed that U.S.-Turkey cooperation on a wide range of priority issues, spanning the Balkans to Afghanistan, including energy, are at a high level. The new administration in Washington, Wexler observed, and the Turks agreed, is committed to work hard on regional peace and shares Turkey's emphasis on engagement. This presents a unique opportunity for strengthening further the U.S.-Turkey alliance. Erdogan said there was a "sea-change" in relations following the November 5, 2007 decision to provide Turkey direct intelligence support against the PKK. Gul described Afghanistan as the highest shared priority and said the GOT has already tasked its agencies and ministries to examine what more Turkey could be doing. Toptan noted "good, neighborly relations" with Iran, but sought to assure Wexler that Turkey tells Iran that if its nuclear efforts are peaceful it must cooperate with the IAEA. ¶10. (C) Wexler praised Gul and Erdogan's courage to reach out to Armenia. Gul said Turkey and Armenia were entering a new era of good working relations that would create a positive climate for stability in the Caucasus. He expressed his confidence that the U.S. Congress would not do anything to throw this cooperation off track. PM Erdogan said an Armenian resolution would have an extraordinarily negative impact on U.S.-Turkey relations and the budding rapprochement with Armenia. Basbug, after pressing for support from the new U.S. administration that would "finish off" the PKK in 2009, cautioned that passage of a measure in Congress to recognize the events of 1915 as genocide would be disastrous for our relationship and would have a concrete negative effect on our military cooperation across the full range of issues on which we now engage. Comment: -------------- ¶11. (C) As a valued and trusted friend of Turkey, Congressman Wexler was uniquely positioned to deliver a message the Turks needed to hear: Your response to the Gaza situation damaged Turkey's image in Washington. This makes it particularly difficult for your friends to advocate on your behalf at a time when the circumstances of a new U.S. administration, high-level U.S.-Turkey cooperation on a wide range of priority issues, and a historic near-breakthrough with Armenia offer a set of circumstances as favorable to Turkey as any we have seen in a long time. The Turks expressed their appreciation for the Congressman's friendship and frankness and appeared to take these messages on board. The Turks already seem to be at work on burnishing their image, aided in large measure by the vigorous and skillful efforts of President Gul, MFA, and the military to ensure that Turkey's relations with the West, especially Israel, remain on track. END COMMENT. ¶12. (U) Congressman Wexler did not have the opportunity to review this cable but authorized Post to send it. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey Jeffrey